Process for manufacturing instruments for separating the cuticle from the nails.



N0. 897, 8lO,- PATEN-TED SEPT. 1, 1908.

R. AMORY.

PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING IN$TRUMENTS FOR SEPARATING THE OUTIGLE FROMTHE NAILS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1908.

witnesses.- Inventor) 1m: NORRIS rs-rsns w., wAsHmowN. o c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

ROBERT AMORY, OFBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING INSTRUMENTS FOR SEPARATING- THE CUTICLE FROMTHE NAILS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1, 1908.

Original application filed January 18, 1908, Serial No. 411,399. Dividedand. this application filed March 12, 1908.

Serial No.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT AMORY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented new and useful Improvements in Processes for ManufacturingInstruments for Separating the Cuticle from the Nails, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved process for producing instrumentsfor separating the cuticle from the nails, the instrument itself beingmade the subject matter of an application for Letters Patent, SerialNumber 411,399, filed by applicant January 18, 1908. The use of such aninstrument for separating the cuticle and flesh from a growing nail,when the instrument is made of metal is likely to cause onychia,whitlow, and ingrowing toe-nails, especially when the cuticle or fleshfrom the soft tissues is attached to the nail and, when this elongateswith the growing nail, is pulled away from the surrounding flesh makinga fissure, thus exposing the wound to absorbing pus or other deleteriousliquid by contact with unclean instruments, materials or articles.

The object of this invention is to obviate this risk to the user and tothis end an instrument of wood or other vegetable matter is charred orcarbonized at one end thereof to sterilize the wood and is thenmoistened in water, preferably antiseptic, which will soften the charredsubstance and prevent the cutting of the cuticle or flesh at the side ofthe nail or under the separated nails at the ends of fingers, thumbs ortoe-nails.

It is more desirable, convenient and easier of manipulation to use aconical smooth point when separating the cuticle or flesh from the nail,but the conical point is not absolutely essential to the inventionhereinafter described. Itis, however, very essential that the end of theinstrument shall be cleaned or sterilized. Charring or carbonizing ofthe wood may be done by igniting the same and afterwards moistening thecarbonized portion of said wood whereby an instrument with a sterilizedend is obtained. The process hereinafter set forth in the claimsconsists in charring the end of the piece of wood of the instrument forseparating the cuticle from the nails and then moistening the carbonizedportion of said wood, whereby an instrument with a sterilized end isobtained. The frocess further consists in igniting the en of the pieceof wood forming a portion of the instrument, allowing the same to becomepartly incinerated, then moistening the carbonized portion of said woodand removing a portion of the same, whereby an instrument with asterilized end having a rounded point is obtained.

The figure of the drawing illustrates a side elevation of a desirableform of my improved instrument for separating the cuticle from thenails.

In the drawings, 1 is a handle of any convenient form having a flange 2thereon which separates the handle from the stem 3, said stem beingrecessed to receive the shank 4 of an end piece 5. The end piece 5 ispreferably conical in shape and formed of wood or other vegetablematerial. Said. end piece 5 may be made in one piece with the stem 3 andhandle 1, but preferably is made detachable, as shown in the drawing, sothat the same handle can be used with a large number of different endpieces, which end pieces may be made of various shapes and sizes to suitthe convenience or desire of the user.

The end piece 5 is sterilized before using in the following manner: Itis first ignited and allowed to burn until a certain amount of the endpiece has become charred and is then plunged into a glass of antisepticwater, whereby the further charring of the wood ceases and thecarbonized portion of said wood is moistened. I of the wood is thenrubbed with a cloth to remove the superfluous carbonized material,leaving the end of the wood charred smooth and of a conical form and incondition to be used for the purpose hereinbefore set forth without anydanger of cutting or injuring the flesh and without any danger oftransferring noxious or suppurating matter from the iii-- strument tothe flesh of the person using it.

While it is preferable to char the instru ment in the mannerhereinbefore set forth, I do not confine myself to the charring of thesame by ignition, as it is evident that the wood may be charred by othermeans.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire by LettersPatent to secure is:

1. The process of manufacturing an instrument for separating the cuticlefrom the nails Said carbonized portion which consists in igniting theend of a piece of wood and allowing the same to become partlyincinerated, then inoistening the carbonized portion of said wood andremoving a portion of the same, whereby an instrument with a sterilizedconical end having a rounded point is obtained.

2. The process of manufacturing an instrument for separating the cuticlefrom the nails which consists in igniting the end of a piece of wood andallowing the'same to become partially incinerated, then moistening thecarbonized portion of said wood and remov'- ing by friction all the freecarbon that can be removed in such manner, whereby an instrument isobtained having a clean and sterilized point.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

ROBERT AMORY.

Witnesses:

CHARLES S. GooDING, Louis A. JoNEs.

